What Causes Cellulitis?

Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and tissue beneath your skin. It commonly affects the lower part of your body, which includes your legs, feet, and toes. It can still occur in other areas of your body. It also appears on your face, arms, hands, and fingers. There are more than fourteen million cases of cellulitis in the United States per year.

Who Does Cellulitis Affect?

Absolutely anyone can get cellulitis. You may be more at risk if:

  1. You are a child.
  2. You have a lingering wound like a cut, surgical incision, ulcer, bug bite, animal bite, tattoo, or piercing.
  3. You have a long-lasting, chronic skin condition like athlete’s foot, eczema, or psoriasis.
  4. You have shingles or chickenpox.
  5. You have a weakened immune system.
  6. You are dealing with obesity.

What Are the Symptoms of Cellulitis?

Symptoms of cellulitis might include:

  1. Discomfort or pain.
  2. Increased tenderness.
  3. Edema or swelling.
  4. Skin is warm to the touch.
  5. Discoloration, red, purple, or slightly darker than your usual skin color, which looks like a rash.
  6. Fluid-filled blisters.
  7. Your skin surface looks lumpy or pitted, much like that of an orange.
  8. Fever or chills.
  9. Fatigue.

Is Cellulitis Caused by Poor Hygiene?

Cellulitis most often appears around damaged skin, but it can occur in areas with poor hygiene.

You should maintain good skin hygiene by:

  1. Regular washing of your hands with soap and warm water.
  2. Clean and trim your fingernails and toenails.
  3. Shower regularly and thoroughly, drying after.
  4. Wearing clean clothes.
  5. Keeping any small wounds clean.

What Tests Will Be Done to Diagnose Cellulitis?

Most often, your doctor may not conduct any tests. However, if you have a severe case of cellulitis, they may recommend tests to make sure the infection has not spread to other parts of your body.

These tests might include:

  1. Blood test- A blood test confirms whether the cellulitis has spread to your blood.
  2. Skin test- A skin test identifies the type of bacteria responsible, which then helps your doctor prescribe the appropriate antibiotic.
  3. Bacterial culture- A bacterial culture identifies the bacteria responsible for your cellulitis.

How is Cellulitis Treated?

Your doctor will usually prescribe oral antibiotics to treat your cellulitis. Oral antibiotics can include dicloxacillin or cephalexin.

Severe cases of cellulitis might not respond to oral antibiotics. You could require hospitalization and intravenous (IV) antibiotics.

What is the Fastest Way to Get Rid of Cellulitis?

The quickest way to get rid of cellulitis is to take all the antibiotics. Some home treatments can help speed up the healing process.

Home treatments include:

  1. Warm compress- Apply a warm compress to your affected area to help reduce swelling.
  2. Elevation- Elevating your affected area will help lower the blood pressure in the area and improve blood flow.
  3. Compression- Compression wraps or stockings will help reduce swelling and improve blood flow. Remove the compression wrap or stocking at least twice every day for 15 minutes.
  4. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)- Over-the-counter NSAIDs, like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, will reduce pain and inflammation. Check with your doctor first before using it.

How Soon After Treatment Will You Feel Better?

You should feel better within a week to 10 days after you start taking antibiotics.

You will notice signs that your cellulitis infection is healing after starting antibiotics. Your pain will decrease, the swelling will subside, and discoloration will begin to fade.

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